Running a 23 year old machine is challenging at the best of times. Just when you think you're on top of all the old crappy bits that break through age, something else comes along to bite you on the arse! Croix in France was like that and I was to have my patience and determination tested again at Cadwell.
Friday practice was a must for me so my self and Phil had made an extra early start to make the 6 hour trip,plus a stop off at Steve Spencers', as well as not missing out on our traditional detour of taking a wrong turn, we actually made the circuit in day light but only to be greeted by a howler of a rain and wind storm. How we ever coped without an awning seems hard to imagine. We had the thing up in minutes and with smug grins upon our faces, albeit soaking wet, we stood in the dry watching the weather wreaking havoc throughout the paddock.
It's hard to predict the weather at Cadwell, so I decided not to bother trying. As it turned out, I had enough to be using my brain power for.
The club has just introduced a half day test fee. Running a whole day not only is more expensive in fees but you burn a set of tyres, more fuel, more oil, more physical energy and the added chance of a spill or more mechanical woes. There is not so much pressure trying to run around like a loony, trying to pack in a whole day. It becomes more relaxed, meaning less margin for error and more time to fix 23 year old bikes that break! So a half day is a great idea.
So yes, the FZ decided to break. The fuel pump, 1999 R6 item, bought from the famous E-*^$, shagged! the resultant trawling the paddock for anyone with such a thing made me glad I had packed a push bike. A fellow Thunderbike rider, with a phone call, promised a spare the next day when he was due to turn up. The offending item got stripped and bodged to get me out for 3 sessions that afternoon.
It was a relief to be able to get my self reacquainted with the track. I felt good about the next days racing. I had dialled in the suspension and added the long awaited steering packers that made the bike feel completely transformed. It now turned so easily and quickly that direction change had become so much less effort and more precise. In fact the bike felt like someone had swapped the old FZ for something else and not told me.
The onboard camera proved invaluable over the weekend and armed with footage from a racing instructor, I felt confident of a good result.
Saturday morning, reasonable weather, at least no rain and the warm up session was going well, until the last lap. I just about made it off the circuit before the thing died. Bugger, what now?!
I chat with fellow Yamaha owners on the internet. Simon had learnt of my Blog through the site I visit and had turned up to watch me ride. As it turned out, he spent most of his time fixing my bike.
At this point, I have to send out massive thanks to him for his help. If it had not been for him, my weekend would have been a non starter.
We had been thinking it was the fuel pump and after stripping the thing and taking the best of two pumps to make one good one, the bike kept cutting out.Then a 400 rider lent a spare pump, but still it would cut out. With the help of some of the Alto bods ( thanks again!) a new battery did the trick. I missed race one, just as I had last year, but race 2 was great!
It's a bit of a mixed bag of emotions, watching the guys you race with heading out on to the track. I tried to contain my frustration of not being out there and settled to watch the race. It was great to watch until the last lap when the two Kawasaki ZXR bikes of Rob and Coiln came over the top of the mountain. Colin caught the back of Rob as they crested the rise and down went Colin. I must say it was absolutely awful seeing a fellow rider lying on the circuit, motionless. As it turns out, he had knocked himself out but was actually reletively, ok. That was crash number 2 for him. The first he managed to get the bike fixed up and get out for the racing.
Race 2 for Thunderbikes and I was starting from the back but with the usual flying start, I made it through to 10th place. I felt I could have done better. A near miss at the hairpin and I had to back off the throttle while the guy behind went straight on, nearly collecting me.
Still, I was happy with 10th and even more pleased to have the bike working and to be looking forward to the next day. I would be starting 9th on the grid and was really fired up for the coming races.
Joe put up a good fight on his 748 Ducati in Saturdays racing. He gets faster every race.Finally, I was starting from where I should have on Saturday and was hoping for a good start.I nearly jumped the start, but managed to gather myself and get away clean and into 6th. I could see Gary on his Blue CBR600 getting away and after a couple of laps Dan, on his red CBR600 into coppice, then fast charging from the back of the grid,Gyles came past into Park and I was down to 8th. That's where I stayed.
A good first race but lots to gain in the next. 8th on the grid is one row further and after having compromised the last start, I had to get a better one. I had a good think about how I could improve from the last race but was struggling with fatigue and beginning to wonder how I was going to cope physically. I decided to try a change in which gear to be in at a couple of corners and a few other small changes mentally. I was resolved to do better.
As we circulated on the warm up lap,I had so little energy that I decided to sit limp on the bike. It was a revelation for me. I found I was keeping with guys infront without particularly trying. If I could do the same in the race, then maybe I could last the distance physically. It worked!
A good start but backing off at the first turn a little too much. I was 6th and keeping with the guys infront. after two or three laps rain started to stream over my visor. We had been chatting about this in the paddock.
All day it had been hot with the occasional light shower. We were watching how little dampness there was on the paddock asphalt and how quickly it dryed in the strong wind. It took quite a prolonged period of a light amount of rain to make the surface wet enough to worry about. With this in mind I continued to push. Still I could keep with the bike infront, Gary on his CBR. I got close enough to pass and managed to get by. 6th. I kept pushing.
Final lap and Gary got me back. I chased hard and was right on him all the way to the end of the lap but with two corners to, Andy, in second palce on his Ducati, highsided and was out. The bike and rider were smack in the middle of the track just on the exit of the hairpin, and with no way to see what is on the exit of the corner as you come through there, the red flag came out and stopped the race. Andy had knocked himself out and broken his collar bone.
With a red on the last lap, the result was counted back a lap to when I had been in front of Gary. So a 5th and the best result for me so far.
I had gone 6 seconds faster than I had last year. Which is testament to the work done over the winter and the ongoing improvements to the bike. When it works, it works well and allows me to concentrate on my riding. It is a real relief to not have to be thinking about mechanical problems while riding.
Cadwell was sweet for me. After the initial problems with the bike, the results were there, where I have always known the bike could be... in the top 6. It gives me immense satisfaction to see the time sheets. Thanks to all the guys that have helped get the bike there! and a special thanks to Simon for giving up your time for a racer!
With Snetterton just 5 days away, there was little time to think about Cadwell. All attention was now on getting home and having one of the busiest weeks of the year. All geared to going well at the next round.
